Fraud charge dropped against adult home operator

Published: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 3:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 3:33 p.m.

Charges have been dropped against a Marion County woman arrested earlier this month for organized fraud in connection with her alleged use of other people's Electronic Benefits Transfer — or EBT — cards.

The State Attorney's Office declined to proceed with the charges against Mary Alexander, 47, because one alleged victim could not be located and a second, who initially told a detective he never gave her permission to use his EBT card, later said he couldn't remember.

Marion County sheriff's detective Clint Smith noted in his report that the second alleged victim suffers from short- and long-term memory problems caused by a car accident several years ago.

"I'm very excited," Alexander said Tuesday. "The truth will stand and a lie will fall."

MCSO spokesman Capt. James Pogue said it is often difficult to get victims to follow through on prosecutions in these types of cases. That ties prosecutors' hands, he said.

Although the fraud charges have been dismissed, Alexander still faces charges of operating unlicensed assisted living facilities and neglect of a disabled/elderly person. She and her attorney, Todd Hopson, have said those charges are false. Hopson argued in a previous interview that his client is not operating an assisted living facility but, instead, an independent facility where people can come and go as they please.

In 2009, deputies arrested Alexander on allegations of neglect of a disabled or elderly adult and operating an unlicensed assisted living facility. The state dropped the neglect charge, and in 2010 Alexander pleaded no contest to the charge of operating without a license, according to online court records.

Earlier this month, investigators were following up on search warrants issued for adult homes operated by Alexander when they found 10 EBT cards and two state identification cards in her purse at a home at 6292 SW 89th St. Road. Residents said Alexander had taken their EBT cards without their permission, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

Detective Smith and investigator A. Chilton with the State's Attorney General's Office reported they also had several other cases alleging that Alexander used residents' cards without their permission. At least two residents said they never applied for EBT cards and that, when they wanted to get cards, they were told cards had already been issued in their names, according to reports.

The charges on two EBT cards totaled more than $2,900, officials said.

Calling the charges "bogus," Alexander said Tuesday the only thing she's guilty of is "helping low-income people."

<p>Charges have been dropped against a Marion County woman arrested earlier this month for organized fraud in connection with her alleged use of other people's Electronic Benefits Transfer — or EBT — cards.</p><p>The State Attorney's Office declined to proceed with the charges against Mary Alexander, 47, because one alleged victim could not be located and a second, who initially told a detective he never gave her permission to use his EBT card, later said he couldn't remember.</p><p>Marion County sheriff's detective Clint Smith noted in his report that the second alleged victim suffers from short- and long-term memory problems caused by a car accident several years ago.</p><p>"I'm very excited," Alexander said Tuesday. "The truth will stand and a lie will fall."</p><p>MCSO spokesman Capt. James Pogue said it is often difficult to get victims to follow through on prosecutions in these types of cases. That ties prosecutors' hands, he said.</p><p>Although the fraud charges have been dismissed, Alexander still faces charges of operating unlicensed assisted living facilities and neglect of a disabled/elderly person. She and her attorney, Todd Hopson, have said those charges are false. Hopson argued in a previous interview that his client is not operating an assisted living facility but, instead, an independent facility where people can come and go as they please.</p><p>In 2009, deputies arrested Alexander on allegations of neglect of a disabled or elderly adult and operating an unlicensed assisted living facility. The state dropped the neglect charge, and in 2010 Alexander pleaded no contest to the charge of operating without a license, according to online court records.</p><p>Earlier this month, investigators were following up on search warrants issued for adult homes operated by Alexander when they found 10 EBT cards and two state identification cards in her purse at a home at 6292 SW 89th St. Road. Residents said Alexander had taken their EBT cards without their permission, according to a Sheriff's Office report.</p><p>Detective Smith and investigator A. Chilton with the State's Attorney General's Office reported they also had several other cases alleging that Alexander used residents' cards without their permission. At least two residents said they never applied for EBT cards and that, when they wanted to get cards, they were told cards had already been issued in their names, according to reports.</p><p>The charges on two EBT cards totaled more than $2,900, officials said.</p><p>Calling the charges "bogus," Alexander said Tuesday the only thing she's guilty of is "helping low-income people."</p><p>"I'm confident that all the charges will be dropped," she said.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>